Russelia

Russelia is a genus of flowering plants in the plantain family, Plantaginaceae. It is sometimes placed in the families Scrophulariaceae or Veronicaceae. The name honours Scottish naturalist Alexander Russell (1715–1768).^[2] Members of the genus are commonly known as firecracker plants or coralblows. Russelia species grow in many parts of the world and are mildly drought resistant.

Russelia
Russelia equisetiformis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Plantaginaceae
Tribe:	Russelieae
Genus:	Russelia Jacq.[1]
Species
See text
Synonyms[1]
Flamaria Raf.

Russelia equisetiformis and Russelia sarmentosa are commonly used to hide unattractive retaining walls or fences because they grow quickly and have dense foliage. Growing to a maximum height of 1.8 m (5.9 ft), they are shrubs which will tolerate full sun to partial shade. As evergreens they bloom for most of the year.

Due to their attractively coloured flowers, these bushes attract birds and insects (such as bees) that feed on flower nectar.

Species

As of August 2023^[update], Plants of the World Online recognises the following species:^[1]

Russelia acuminata Carlson Russelia campechiana Standl. Russelia chiapensis Lundell Russelia coccinea (L.) Wettst. Russelia contrerasii B.L.Turner Russelia conzattii Carlson Russelia cora Méndez-Lar. & O.Téllez Russelia cuneata B.L.Rob. Russelia equisetiformis Schltdl. & Cham. – Fountainbush, coral plant Russelia floribunda Kunth Russelia furfuracea Brandegee Russelia grandidentata Carlson Russelia hintonii Lundell Russelia iltisneeana B.L.Turner Russelia jaliscensis B.L.Rob. Russelia laciniata Standl. & Steyerm. Russelia lanceifolia Lundell Russelia leptopoda Lundell Russelia longifolia Carlson Russelia longipedunculata Pérez-Calix Russelia longisepala Carlson Russelia maculosa Lundell Russelia manantlana B.L.Turner Russelia multiflora Sims

Russelia obtusata S.F.Blake Russelia parvifolia Carlson Russelia polyedra Zucc. Russelia pringlei B.L.Rob. Russelia pubescens Lundell Russelia purpusii Brandegee Russelia retrorsa Greene Russelia rotundifolia Cav. Russelia rugosa B.L.Rob. Russelia sarmentosa Jacq. Russelia sonorensis Carlson Russelia staleyae Carlson Russelia standleyi Carlson Russelia steyermarkii Carlson Russelia syringifolia Schltdl. & Cham. Russelia tehuana Pérez-Calix & Guzm.-Díaz Russelia tenuis Lundell Russelia tepicensis B.L.Rob. Russelia teres Lundell Russelia ternifolia Kunth Russelia tetraptera S.F.Blake Russelia verticillata Kunth Russelia villosa Lundell Russelia worthingtonii B.L.Turner

Sources

Carlson, Margery (1957). "Monograph of the Genus Russelia (Scrophulariacae)". Fieldiana Botany. 29 (4): 244–285. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.2398. Retrieved October 31, 2017.